Overview
- David Farley publicly suggested One Nation's 130,000 net overseas migration (NOM) target could exclude other migrants and that 'there could be an extra 100,000 on top', a comment that breaks with the party's stated policy.
- Party leader Pauline Hanson and other One Nation MPs have insisted the 130,000 NOM target stands, but repeated mixed messages from inside the party have not been reconciled.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics data show about 32,645 PALM visa holders were in Australia in June 2026 and roughly half held long-term placements, which by NOM rules would generally be counted in the official total.
- Senior One Nation figures including Barnaby Joyce have said many PALM workers are outside NOM because of short stays, while ministers such as Pat Conroy point to ABS evidence that contradicts that view and highlights the party's inconsistent claims.
- The dispute matters politically because it changes how One Nation's target compares with major parties, raises doubts about the party's message discipline, and has prompted speculation from insiders that Farley could leave the party and sit as an independent.